PROVIDENCE – Providence hotels’ 2012 occupancy rate was higher than the national average and showed a 4.3 percent gain over the city’s 2011 occupancy rate, according to the Smith Travel Research, a global hotel data firm.

In 2012, the national average came in at 61.4 percent and the New England average was 61.6 percent.

“We’re very pleased with the numbers for 2012 and very optimistic about 2013,” Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in a statement.

Providence hotels also showed gains in Average Daily Rate, averaging $137.66 for 2012, a 5.7 percent increase over the 2011 Average Daily Rate of $129.94.

Comparatively, the national ADR for 2012 was $106.10 and the New England ADR $126.80.

The bureau said it attributes its strong numbers to meeting, convention and sport event bookings and attendance, and event-based programming by the city of Providence and other organizations.

“Our successful efforts to attract large conventions and events like this week’s Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic are bringing more visitors to Providence and helping grow our local economy,” said Mayor Angel Taveras in a statement. “Providence has so much to offer, and we will continue working closely with the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau to promote and market our Creative Capital.”

The bureau said that in tracking occupancy, Saturday was the most popular night for hotel stays which it attributes to the city’s leisure travel draw and its efforts to market Providence as a weekend getaway destination.

Providence had two months in 2012 – June and October – of over 80 percent occupancy, which had not happened here since 2004.

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